New Orleans Pelicans: Grades for 113-80 win over the OKC Thunder
The grades finally went up in the New Orleans Pelicans blowout win over OKC.
The New Orleans Pelicans were coming off a beating at the hands of the Suns, so it was nice to see them bounce back against the OKC Thunder.
Look, the Thunder are the youngest team in the NBA and not expected to be a playoff team, so the Pels should beat them, but this is the NBA, and it was nice to see the Pelicans not play down to an inferior opponent.
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The Pelicans dominated this game behind 54 points in the paint and tenacious defense, especially in the second half.
Fans are worried about the Pels’ 3-point defense but it proved to work last night, as OKC eventually stopped hitting them and the Pels were able to pull away.
Here are the grades for the Pels 113-80 win over the Thunder.
New Orleans Pelicans: Point guard grades in blowout win over the OKC Thunder
Point Guards
A. . Point Guard. New Orleans Pelicans. LONZO BALL
Lonzo Ball came just short of a triple-double, with 16 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, but it was his defense that really set the tone in this one.
Lonzo is evolving into one of the best defensive guards in the NBA before our very eyes. After shutting down Devin Booker the game before, Ball put the clamps on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, holding him to just eight points on 3-of-10 shooting.
Lonzo continues to struggle from 3-point range, hitting just 2-of-7 but his defense has been outstanding.
He is moving his feet much better than last year and using his strength to keep guys in front of him. He’s also been a menace in passing lanes, getting deflections and steals.
Lonzo Ball’s shot will come around, but for now he is playing elite defense and defense and effort do not go into slumps.